Today I was working OT and when my relief came in my scrub nurse and I counted sponges, sutures ect. and found that our suture count was incorrect. We counted 18 sutures, 18 suture packs but 19 were written down. I went through the garbage and found 18 suture wrappers. I guess I made a mistake and wrote the wrong number down when I gave sutures up to the sterile field. The team was told about it and was happy with the search. I understand that this would make for an incorrect count, and that a report would need to be written up as things get lost. My problem, besides feeling bad that I left a report for the relieving nurse, is the scrub nurse seemed angry with me. I'm not perfect, it was a busy case, and I made a mistake. It happens.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
What does the count policy for your workplace state? That is what you will be held to. If the surgeons are not following the policy, then it is up to you to follow the policy or escalate up your chain of command.
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 12,051 Posts
What does the count policy for your workplace state? That is what you will be held to. If the surgeons are not following the policy, then it is up to you to follow the policy or escalate up your chain of command.